I am also about 10 minutes’ drive from training now, so don’t spend a lot of time in the car

Jack Rodwell

Rodwell has become an injury outcast at the Etihad Stadium since joining the champions from Everton in a £12m deal last ­summer.

The midfielder has made just two starts for Roberto Mancini’s men after breaking down with a crippling hamstring problem.

Mancini last week admitted he was worried about Rodwell, who limped out of an England ­Under-21 game in October after suffering his EIGHTH hamstring injury since the start of last ­season.

But Rodwell aims to be playing in the next fortnight after taking a series of bizarre steps to get fit again – including moving house, ­changing his car, taking up yoga lessons and even swapping the pillow he sleeps on.

Rodwell, 21, who has won two England caps, insists he has left nothing to chance as he looks to bounce back and kick-start his career.

He said: “You have to rule ­everything out. I have changed my pillow and other silly stuff, but that’s part and parcel of ­being a footballer.

“I changed my car completely. I was in a sports car and changed to a Jeep, which is more stable for the back and doesn’t put too much stress on it.

“I am also about 10 minutes’ drive from training now, so don’t spend a lot of time in the car.

“I used to feel a little bit stiff. I moved so I don’t have to drive for too long to get there in the morning.

“I have also started doing yoga. A lot of people said the same ­happened for Ryan Giggs, that throughout his youth he got a lot of hamstrings. He started yoga, and so have I. I am just trying to do everything right.”

Rodwell is not the first high-­profile sportsman to resort to such tactics to boost his fitness. Both Giggs and Rio Ferdinand took up yoga years ago, while England rugby star Mark Cueto changed his car after suffering hamstring issues.

Rodwell also paid a visit to ­famous German sports injuries specialist Hans Muller-Wohlfahrt after he was ruled out of ­contention for England’s Euro 2012 squad.

Now he has returned to full training and set his sights on making his comeback before the end of this month.

He added: “Dr Muller- Wohlfahrt sorted me out ­really well and after seeing him I didn’t have a problem up ­until the last Under-21 game.

“I am positive and don’t feel like I need to see him again. If the problem persists and lasts throughout the season, we will look at it then. But the team at City have done a really good job on me.

“They’ve held me back a bit more than I wanted, to be ­honest. I wanted to be back in training a couple of weeks ago but they didn’t allow it.

“They made me do extra work to make sure I’m stronger than ever.

“It’s been frustrating for me as I’ve been injured a lot. But I hope I can get more fitness and get time on the pitch. I’m back in training now, so I’m positive.

“When you sign for a new club you just want to play and when injury stops you it is ­frustrating.

“But you can’t be negative – I’m through it now and I’ve got the second half of the season to look forward to.”

Meanwhile, Sergio Aguero is winning his fight to overcome a hamstring injury in time to play against Fulham tomorrow.